Indian Antiquary Vol 61

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 325

SEPTEMBER, 1932
THE SCATTERGOODS AND THE EAST INDIA COMPANY
153
[63] Captain Edward Arlond, Sir,
I wrote you to Bombay by severall overland conveyances giveing you an account of our safe arrivall at Madrass, coyning your gold and laying it out again in diamonds, some betelas and shifts, and shirts for Captain Cliff,(") which hope all came safe to your hands.
I was in hopes to (have) had the happiness of meeting you at the Cape of Good Hope and thought all along that we should touch there, but I can not tell how our Captain, after he went in so farr into the bay that the Fort and towne were all open and we within two miles of the ships, bore away for this place (St. Helena). Tis true that the wind was against us and some times had it in gusts, but he might easily have turn'd it in or come to an anchor under Pengwin(), where we went by a small Dutch sloop that lay at an anchor there.
We had a pretty good passage here. We came to this place from Madrass in 14 weeks and 3 days and mett with pretty good weather. Jnly near [?] we had a very violent storme, that oblidged us to heave some lumber over board and cut our main topmast by the board to ease the ship.(*) The Captain had a few of his bales damaged and your bale was just touch'a. Mr. Phips(5) and every body perswaded me to leave your bale and the two small bundles of shirts and shifts for you here, because if I carried them to England, they must all goe into the Companeys warehouse and to pay duty for them there, and there) would not much to be gott, whereas if they goe by you, you can find some way or other to gett clear. So I have left them with Governor Pike (6) as per inclosed notes (1) and have left orders with him that in case you did not touch hore, then to send them home on some ship consigned to you, so that you being arrived before them in England,(8) might contrive some way or other to gett them ashoare with the least charges.
Your other things I carry with me and shall take care to deliver them to your attornoy, Captain Cliff. Mr. Mauberts accounts attested I have left you inclosed, as likewise my accounts of your bale and two bundles. I hope they may give you satisfaction. Your gold was all coyned, which is the best for your advantage, and respondentia not being to be had, I left the diamonds to be invested by Mr. Maubert, as he being the proper person for it, I carry them with me without registering or putting you to the charge of two per cent to the captain, as I have done by all my own.
I have no more to add, but wishing you all health and happiness and a happy meeting in old England and letting you know that all captains are not the same aboard as ashore, remain
Your most humble servant
J. S. St. Helena the [?] Janry. 1715/16. P.S. Give my humble service to the Generall, Captain Small and honest Tobin.()
[NOTES ON DOCUMENT No. 63.] (1) Perhaps identical with the Captain Clift who commanded the country ship variously spelt Jadamiah, Jadtchmiah, Jailatchme, Jay Latchemay, Zealatching, in which Scattergood had an interest. The ship arrived at Fort St. George from Surat on 2 June 1718 (Port St. George Diary).
(2) In the log tho Captain's reasons for not putting at the Cape are thus given : "Docember the 10th 1715. This morning Cape Good Hope bore NELN, about 4 loagues off shore, fino frosh gales and pleasant wheather; a great western swell. Att noon Pengwin (Island) NEUN, 3 miles off shore; little winds. As we came open with the Bay, we found itt blow very hard and very likely to hold, by the gathering of the clouds over the Table Land. We fetchd within 3 miles of the ships, haveing the Fort open ; we could not